Does School Board Leadership Matter? - Many school board members do not give top priority to improving student learning although students do better academically in districts where school board members have that focus. Researchers found board members tend to be shaped by their professional backrounds. Former teachers or other school system employees are less knowledgeable about true district conditions than their colleagues who are not former educators. Further, at-large, on-cycle elections are linked with districts that beat the odds. (Arnold F. Shober and Michael T. Hartney, Thomas B. Fordham Institute, March 2014)...

The Key Work of School Boards Guidebook - Classic. This publication from the National School Boards Association, provides information to help school boards understand and achieve the essential elements of their work. The guidebook provides a framework of strategies in eight key action areas where successful school boards have focused their attention: vision, standards, assessment, accountability, resource alignment, climate, collaboration and continuous improvement. (Katheryn W. Gemberling, Carl W. Smith and Joseph S. Villani, NSBA, 2002)...